Trump Says He May Boycott Next Debate if CNN Doesn’t Give Him $5 Million

USA Today reported late Monday that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump proposed demanding $5 million from CNN or he would not participate in the next debate during a campaign stop in Macon, Georgia.

Trump says CNN hasn’t treated him properly even though his celebrity has been responsible for increased viewership on the network. He cited CNN’s last debate in September, which brought in an audience of 23 million people.

“’CNN had 23 million people. It was the biggest show in the history of CNN,’ Trump said. And the billionaire businessman is reopening negotiations over whether he will lend his star power to the debate the network is hosting Dec. 15,” USA Today reports.

“How about I tell CNN that I’m not gonna do the next debate?” Trump asked the crowd.

“I won’t do the debate unless they pay me $5 million, all of which money goes to the Wounded Warriors or to vets,” Trump said, following a segue into how people who are “really, really, really smart like I am,” don’t need teleprompters.